Catheter

ABSTRACT

A catheter comprising, an extruded tube having a drainage lumen and inflation lumen, with the inflation lumen communicating with the outside of the tube through an opening. The catheter has a tip secured to a distal end of the tube, and an annular sleeve extending from the tip and having a proximal end secured to the outside of the tube.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 930,386,filed Aug. 2, 1978, and now abandoned, which is a division ofapplication Ser. No. 767,425, filed Feb. 10, 1977, and now abandoned,which is a division of application Ser. No. 581,251, filed May 27, 1975,and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to catheters.

Conventional Foley catheters have often been made from latex rubberthrough dipping techniques. Although such catheters are in widespreaduse, on occasion their inflation lumens become obstructed during use,thus preventing deflation of their retention balloons which are inflatedin the patient's bladder. More recently, different materials have beenused to make urinary retention catheters. Some of these materials may beextruded to form the catheter shaft and inflation lumen, thussubstantially eliminating nondeflation problems associated with theinflation lumen. Additionally, some of the materials are believed lesstoxic to the patient than latex rubber.

Although certain difficulties have been solved through use of differentmaterials, the retention balloon must be formed in a different manner.The retention balloon and catheter tip may be made in a single assembly,and the assembly may be secured to the distal end of the catheter shaft.However, the bond between the assembly and shaft should be sufficientlystrong to prevent severence during use, and the tip should besufficiently rigid to permit placement in the patient without undueflexation of the tip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principal feature of the present invention is the provision of acatheter of simplified construction and improved strength.

The catheter of the present invention comprises, an extruded tube havinga drainage lumen and inflation lumen extending to a distal end of thetube. The inflation lumen communicates with the outside of the tubethrough opening means. The catheter has a tip assembly comprising a tipsecured to the distal end of the tube, and an annular sleeve extendingfrom the tip and having a proximal end secured to the outside of thetube.

A feature of the present invention is that the tip may have an annulargroove adjacent its proximal end to receive a distal end portion of thetube.

Another feature of the invention is that the distal portion of the shaftis bonded to the tip in the groove.

Yet another feature of the invention is that a distal portion of thesleeve is bonded to the distal portion of the tube.

Thus, a feature of the invention is that a superior bond is obtainedbetween the tube and tip assembly.

A feature of the present invention is that the tip has sufficientrigidity to permit placement of the catheter in a patient without undueflexation of the tip.

Another feature of the invention is that in one embodiment the tip issecured to the tube adjacent the proximal end of the sleeve.

Further features will become more fully apparent in the followingdescription of the embodiments of this invention and from the appendedclaims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a catheter of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, partly broken away, of a distalend portion of the catheter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of thecatheter of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, partly broken away, of anotherembodiment of the catheter of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, partly broken away, of anotherembodiment of the catheter of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of thecatheter of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a urinary retention cathetergenerally designated 10 having a shaft 12, a connector 14 secured orbonded to a proximal end 16 of the shaft 12, and a tip assembly 18defining a distal end 20 of the catheter 10. The catheter 10 has adrainage lumen 22 extending through the shaft 12 and connector 14, andan inflation lumen 24 extending through a wall of the shaft 12 and asidearm 26 of the connector 14 where it communicates with valve means28. The tip assembly 18 has a rounded tip 30 at the distal end of thecatheter, and a flexible annular balloon or sleeve 32 secured to anouter surface 34 of the shaft 12. In use, a syringe (not shown) isattached to the valve means 28, and fluid is injected through theinflation lumen 24 to inflate the balloon 32 in the patient's bladderafter placement of the catheter. Similarly, the syringe is used towithdraw the fluid from the balloon 32 through the lumen 24 to deflatethe balloon, preparatory to removal of the catheter from the patient.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tip 30 has a pair of drainage eyes 36which extend through opposite sides of the tip, and which communicatewith the drainage lumen 22 through a channel 38 in the tip 30. Afterplacement of the catheter, urine drains through the eyes 36 and drainagelumen 22 of the catheter.

The shaft 12 preferably comprises an extruded tube, and may be made ofany suitable material, such as urethane, polyvinylchloride, or silicone.The tip assembly 18 may be made of the same materials, or from latexrubber, may be molded, and may have a modulus of elasticity less thanthe modulus of elasticity of the shaft or tube 12. The tip assembly 18may be secured to the tube 12 by suitable means, such as byradio-frequency sealing for certain materials, and by suitable adhesivesor solvents, including plastisol, toluene, and silicone adhesives.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tube 12 has an annular tongue 40 at its distalend 42 and adjacent its outer surface 34, with the tongue 40 defining anannular recess 44 adjacent an inner surface 46 of the tube 12. The tip30 has an annular tongue 48 at its proximal end 50 and adjacent itsinner surface 52.

As shown, the sleeve 32 extends from the proximal end 50 of the tip 30and overlies the outer surface 34 of the tube 12, with the distal end 54of the sleeve 32 defining an annular groove 56 with the tip tongue 48.The tip tongue 48 is received in the recess 44, and the tube tongue 40is received in the groove 56 with the tongues 48 and 40 in matingengagement, and with the tongue 48 defining a relatively continuousinner surface of the catheter relative the tube 12. The tongues 48 and40 are secured together by suitable bonding means 58, as describedabove, with the bonding means 58 extending throughout the recess 44 andgroove 56 and also securing the distal end 54 of the sleeve 32 to theouter surface 34 of the tube 12 at its distal end 42.

The proximal end 60 of the sleeve 32 is secured to the outer surface 34of the tube 12 circumferentially around the tube by suitable bondingmeans 62. Thus, the sleeve 32 and tube 12 define an inflation cavity 64intermediate the bonding means 58 and 62, with the cavity 64communicating with the inflation lumen 24 through suitable opening means66 in the tube wall intermediate the proximal and distal ends of thesleeve. The inflation fluid is pumped through the lumen 24 and openingmeans 66 into the cavity 64 to inflate the sleeve 32.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the tip assembly 18 issecured to the tube 12 with the interengaging tongues 40 and 48providing an improved bond to prevent severance of the tip 30 from thetube 12. The bond between the distal end 54 of the sleeve 32 and thedistal end 42 of the tube 12 also enhances the attachment strengthbetween the tip assembly and tube. The tip assembly may be molded, thebonding material may be placed on the tube and tip assembly to form thebonding means 58 and 62, the tip assembly may be placed on the tube, andthe tube and tip assembly may be radially compressed to facilitateformation of the bond.

Another embodiment of the catheter, which is similar to the catheter ofFIG. 2, is illustrated in FIG. 6, in which like reference numeralsdesignate like parts. In this embodiment, the tip 30 has an annularledge 59 defining an annular recess 61 adjacent the inner surface 52 ofthe tip. The tube 12 has an annular tongue 40' at its distal end 42 andadjacent its inner surface 46, with the tongue 40' defining an annularrecess 63, which may be formed by grinding, adjacent the outer surfaceof the tube 12. As shown, the tube tongue 40' is received in the recess61 and the ledge 59 is received in the recess 63. The tongue 40' andledge 59 are secured together, and the distal end 54 of the sleeve 32may be secured to the outer surface of the tube 12 adjacent its distalend, by the bonding means 58.

Another embodiment of the catheter of the present invention isillustrated in FIG. 4, in which like reference numerals designate likeparts. In this embodiment, the proximal end 50 of the tip 30 has anannular shoulder 68 which abuts against the annular distal end 42 of thetube 12. Thus, the bonding means 58 secures the shoulder 68 to thedistal end of the tube 12, and the distal end 54 of the sleeve 32 to thedistal end of the tube at the outer surface of the tube. As shown, thetip shoulder 68 has a greater thickness than the tube to assure that thetube abuts against the shoulder during bonding and to add rigidity tothe tip due to the increased amount of material surrounding the channel38.

Another embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 3, in which like referencenumerals designate like parts. In this embodiment, the tip 30 has acylindrical plug 70 extending from the proximal end 50 of the tip anddefining an annular groove 72 with the distal end 54 of the sleeve 32.As shown, the plug 70 is snugly received in the distal end of thedrainage lumen 22, and the distal end 42 of the tube 12 is received inthe groove 72, with the bonding means 58 securing the plug 70 and thedistal end of the tube 12 together.

The bonding means 58 also secures the distal end 54 of the sleeve to theouter surface 34 of the tube 12 at its distal end throughout a zone 74peripherally around the tube. The drainage eyes 36 are formed throughthe distal ends of the sleeve and tube in the zone 74, such that alignedopenings are defined in the sleeve and tube. The distal end of the tubeadds rigidity to the tip assembly 18 beneath the distal end of thesleeve. If desired, the distal end of the inflation lumen 24 may beplugged by suitable means 76, such as a drop of adhesive or solvent.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5, in whichlike reference numerals designate like parts. In this embodiment, thetip 30 has an elongated shaft 80, and a substantial portion of thesleeve 32 overlies the shaft 80 with the cavity 64 being locatedintermediate the sleeve 32 and shaft 80. The tip 30 has an annulartongue 82 at its proximal end and adjacent its inner surface 52, withthe proximal end 60 of the sleeve 32 and the tongue 82 defining anannular groove 84. As shown, the tongue 82 is received in the distal endof the drainage lumen 22, and the distal end 42 of the tube 12 isreceived in the groove 84. The bonding means 62 secures the distal end42 of the tube to the tongue 82, a shoulder 86 of the tip, and theproximal end 60 of the sleeve 32.

As shown, the tip 30 has a passageway 88 adjacent its distal end 50communicating between the inflation lumen 24 and the opening means 66leading to the cavity 64 beneath the sleeve 32. A tube section 90 mayhave one end received in the inflation lumen 24 and its other endreceived in the passageway 88. The tube section 90 assures thatcommunication is established between the inflation lumen and passagewayduring assembly of the catheter.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:
 1. A retention catheter, comprising:an elongated shaft comprising an extruded tube having an outer surface, a distal end, a drainage lumen extending to the distal end of the tube, an inflation lumen extending through the wall of the tube to the distal end of the tube, and an opening extending through the wall of the tube communicating between the inflation lumen and the outer surface of the tube, said opening being spaced from the distal end of the tube; a tip secured to the tube adjacent its distal end, said tip having an outer surface, a drainage eye communicating with the drainage lumen of said tube, and an annular shoulder at the proximal end of the tip, the axially-facing surface of said shoulder abutting against and being secured to the distal end of said tube, and with said shoulder closing a distal end of the inflation lumen; and an expansible annular sleeve of one-piece construction with said tip, said sleeve extending from the tip adjacent said shoulder at the outer surface of the tip, the distal end of said sleeve being located at a juncture with said shoulder, said sleeve distal end including an interior surface which is secured to the outer surface of the tube distal end, and the proximal end of the sleeve being secured to the outer surface of the tube circumferentially around the shaft, said opening being located intermediate said sleeve distal and proximal ends, said shoulder and sleeve distal end being arranged to enshroud said tube distal end thus to provide a catheter tip structure less likely to be separated from said tube during use, said opening communicating between the inflation lumen and the outer surface of the tube being located at a point remote from said tube distal end, where said tube distal end is secured to said shoulder axially-facing surface, and remote from said sleeve proximal end, where said sleeve proximal end is secured to the outer surface of said tube, whereby the patency of said opening will not be compromised during the assembly of said tip with said tube.
 2. The catheter of claim 1 in which said shoulder has a greater thickness than the thickness of said tube, and extends inwardly from an inner surface of the tube. 